Knitting-machine.



W. A. INGALLS. KNITTING MACHINE. y APPLICATION FILED JUNB. 1,909. 1,025,470.

W. A. INGALLS. KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNB, 1909.

LQ'YO Patented May 7,1912..

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNE.

W. A. INGALLS.` KNITTING MACHINE. APPLIGATIUN FILED JUNBs, 1909.

1,025,470. Patented May v, 19m.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

/VVENTOR.

'Anale/mx a yWILLIS A. INGALts, or CLEVELAND, omo.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

'Application led June 5, 1909. Serial No. 50E-L45?.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIS A. INGALLs, a subject of Edwardl the Seventh, King of Englaiul. residing in Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements ,fin Knitting-Machines; and I hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and to use the same; i

My invention relates more particularly to the'mechanism for mounting and operating the needle. j

In knitting machines as heretofore made the needle and the needle plate are subjected to excessive friction-and-fconsequent wear and breakage, by reason of the manner in which the yneedles are mounted and actuated.` 'llie needles are .mounted in slots in the needle plate and the projecting shank of the vneedle actuated lby cams suitably mounted and operated, Without support. for

the shank ofthe needle except such as it receives from the side of the slot in -the needle plate. In some machines the dept-h of the slot has been increased beyond the thickness of the .needle so as to allow the side of the projecting shank of the needle to have greater bearing surface against the sides of the slots, while in other machines other devices have been resorted to in order to give greater bearing surface to the side ofthe needle'` so as to prevent the needle from yielding in the direction of the motion of the cam and binding in its slot, causing the cam lto shear oft' the shank of`- the needle..

The object of my invention is to so mount and operate the needle that the bearing surface thereof and of the needle plate in which it is mounted and also that part of the needle through which motionis imparted (hereinafter referred to as its shank) shall not be subjected to the wear and strain incident to the present method of 'operating the needles.

My invention consists in the usual slotted ir grooved needle plate in which the needles are mounted in `the usual manner and an auxiliary needle plate so mounted with reference to the needle plate proper that the outer` end of the projecting .shank of the needle issupported by corresponding slots or grooves in the auxiliary needle plate, and in this manner held rigidly against the actuating cani, thereby obvating the strain Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May '7, 1912.

and resulting friction and wear iii the slot of the needle plate proper, and the conscquent breaking of the needle. In order to accomplish this I divide the cam .plate into two parts and convey the motion to the needles in the manner hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure '1 shows a sectional side elevation of one sido of the circular knitting machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical sectional view showing the opposite side of same. Fig. 3 shows a plan view ofa part of the horizontal needle plate proper and 'the tops of the horizontal cams, the auxil iary needle plate and the cam plate being removed. Figs. l and 5 are enlarged views showing detail. ot' the needle plat-e, needle and cams. Fig. G shows a sectional detail of the vertical needle plate and its auxiliary needle plate. l

Like ligures indicate like parts in all of the drawings.

12 is the frame of the machine.

19 is the horizontal needle plate mounted on the frame 12 and secured thereto by capl screws 20. Mounted upon the outer side of the needle plate 19 is thev auxiliary needle plate 2l sccnredto 19 by the screws 22.

14. is the horizontal cam plate attached to the shaft 28 by the arm 14". This cam plate 14- .supports the adjustable cams 25.

and rigid cam supports 47 which are attached thereto by the screws 2G. The cams 25 are adjusted by screws. 49, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the extent of the movement of the needle being determined by the adjustment of the cams.

1S is a cam ring let intoan annular ring in the needle plate 19 and supporting the cams 23 which are attached thereto by the y screws 24. The lower surface" of the cam plate 1:4V and the cam ring 1S are provided with 4teeth 14a and 18a which engage with gears 15 and 17 respectively as shown in Fig. 1.

27 are needles mounted in the slots or grooves 19 of the horizont-al needle plate 1,9. The needles 27 are bent double forming a shank 27a, the upper end or outer extremity of the shank- 27a being adapted to fit into the groove or slot 21 in the lower surface of the auxiliary needle plate 21, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

34.- is a vertical needle plate niountedl on the central shaft 2 8. It rests -upon collar 36 secured'by screw 44. Needle platetis proloo l mounted in the needle plate, 34and :attached volvescamvringNl vlocation to with toothed surface 29.

thereto by pins 34". the .needle plate 35is grooves 35 corresponding in number and The outer surface of plate 34 as shown in Fig. 6.Y

`29- is a vertical cam plate ymounted on provided with slots or the lgrooves '3P-'of the'need'leg shaft 28 and is provided on its lofwer side The cam lplate 29 supports dog 39 which in turn supportsl cams 38, the latter being attached to the head 39 of the dog 40 'by screws 38, the-ob! jectl of the dog of the cams.

33 is a cam ring for operatin the vertical needles 41 through cams 37 1g. 1) whichl are attached lto ,the cam ring 33 by screws 45 (Fig. 2).

indicates teeth on the lower surface of the cam ring 33. The toothed surface of cam plate 29\ and ycam ring 33 engage the pinions- 30' and 32 respectively, the pinions being attached to spindle 31, thereby causin the 4cam ring and the cam plate to revo fe 1n unison. shaft 11 to which are also attached the 15 and 17, Fig. 1. shaft 11 and pinion 15 rotates the vcam plate being 'to permit adjustment drivingv pulley v10 is mounted on the; ears* The revolving o' the' 14 causing its adjustable cams 125 to im4 pinge against the front Aside of the shan-'k 27Il of needle 27 forcing the needleoutward. At the same time the rotation of gear 137 reand .cams 23the latter being so adjusted that the revolving ofthe cam ring forces the needle shanl -27a inwardly or toward the center of the machine until 27 through itsi it has reached 'the limit' of its inward stroke when it is again fol-ceda sition andi arm 48 vertical needle movement is imparted to the cams of lthe of the needle plate 29, throughthe am d'4"4 plate 14, secured to the shaft' 28, upon which the inner camI plate 29 isf gear 30 and through the spindle 31 to gear 32, which in turnv imparts motion to the cam ring 33. As the cam ring 29 revolves its cams 38 coming in contact with the upper side of the shank 41L of the needle 41 forces the needle downward' the cam ring 33 coming in contact with the shank of the needle force it upward. The length of the stroke or movement of the needles may. of course, be determined by the form and adjustment of the cams in accordance with requiremen The vertical prevented `from rota'tin by the projecting downward and inwardly from. .thefra e V fc 'llie machine 'and 'being while the cams 37 of.

'needle pla'te 34 is held in po- Figs. 2 1and needles are necessarily veryA c .adapted to engage the lug 34" as shown in i 6, there being only suflicient space between. the arm 43 and the lug 3'4" to fpm'mit the material 46 to pass down between em. I The .mechanism herein describedrie par# ticularly eiicient in'doing very fine' work. in' 't'his character of work the oints of the and when the slot and needle Phave 'become come in contact with the 'op osing needle, breaking the needles. More iilr material is cut by 'thecontact of' e needles, causing the machine to drop stitches 'und 'make holes in the gamentfan' va great amount of waste. With-myinventim the needle is held rigidly in posi-tion and the point of the needle may come fin very close proximity to the opposing needle 1 without danger of coming'incontact with it, 'or near enough.I to it to injure the material.

'From'A the foregoing specificationsy Land drawings it will be lreadily understood that my invention may be applied to so-call'ed flat `knitting machines as easily as it Ais Ato circular machines, and the necessary rmese'lves to any person skilled rin 'the art fte whlch it appertains.

Having described m invention, .Iz'claimt 1. In a knitting mac -a need-le plate having slots vor grooves or the rreception of needles, of 'an auxilio `medie plate mounted provided with slots or grooves -corresponding to those of fthe needle plate proper, needles .mounted in lthe grooves of said needle yplatte proper .and hafving'shanks projecting into and adapted to engage 'thecorresponding grooves an said auxiliary' needle platte, cams mounted between said needle fplaxte proper and .the auxiliary needle 'fplate and adapted to force said needles forward and back, cam Vholders or plates supporting said cams, and means' for rmpartin to said .cams 'for' the purpose speci ed.

2. In la circular knitting machine, 'the combination with 'a needle plate having slots or grooves for fthe reception of theneedles, of an auxiliary needle site -l -thereto and provided with slots 'or grooves correspondrng to those 'of the needle plate, needles mounted in grooves in said needle a late and having 'Shanks projecting into an adapted to engage the grooves in vsaid auxiliary needle 'I late, j. cam Ute and cam ring provided with cams a mpted Ito engage the, Shanks of the needles ast a t .between lthe lneedle :plate and fthe tummy' needle plate 'and to ward and Iback and means for z'rmp motion to .said cam plate amd uam ning, substantially as :and lfor 'the pmpuse specified.

worn, even a slight twist inthefneedle is sulicient to cause the 'latch' of the needle -to uently @the Chanical changesw-ill readily suggest t-llcm-A f plate mounted oppofor@ me needles fm se, together,

ine, the-colrlbinationr y l l'y 100 opposite thereto and motion iso" 3. l n a circular knitting machine, the combination with a needle plate having slots or grooves for the reception of the needles, of an auxiliary needle plate mounted opposite thereto and provided with slots or grooves corresponding to those of the needle plate, needles mounted in grooves in said needle plate and having shanks projecting into and adapted to engage the grooves in said auxiliary needle plate, a cam plate provided with cams mounted between the needle plate 'and the auxiliary needle plate and adapted to 'lorce said needles outward from the cent-er of the machine and means for adjusting said cams, a cam-ring provided with cams mounted thereon between the needle plate and the auxiliary plate and adapted t-o force said needles toward the center of said machine, and means for imparting motion to said cam plate and cam ring, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. ln a circular knitting machine the combination of a horizontal dial needle plate having slots or grooves for the reception of the needles, an auxiliary horizontal dial needle plate mounted opposite thereto and provided with slots or grooves corresponding to those of the needle plate, needles mounted in said needle plate and having shanks projecting into and adapted to e'ngage the grooves of the auxiliary needle plate, a circular cam plate 14 mounted above said needle plates wit-h its inner edge projecting downuf'ard and adapted to support cams 25, cams 25 secured to the inner edge of the circular cam plate 14 and adapted to force the shank of the needles outward, an annular am plate 18 mounted 1n the needle plate 19, and adapted to support cams 23,

cams 23 secured to the upper side of the annular cam ring and adapted to force theing in its inner surface vertical slots or grooves for the reception of needles', an auxiliary cylindrical needle plate 35 mounted 1 nside of the needle plate 34 and having 1n lts outer surface vertical slots or grooves corresponding to those in the needle plate 34,

mounted on the outer surface of cam ring 33 and adapted to force the shank of the needle upward, gears 30 and 32 rigidly mounted on shaft31 and respectively engaging the toothed lower surfaces of cam rings 29 and 33 and adapted to rotate them in unison, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. ln a circular knitting machine the combination of a cylindrical needle plate 34 having in its inner surface vertical slots or grooves for the reception of needles, an auX- iliary cylindrical needle plate 35 mounted inside of the needle plate 34 and having in its outer surface vertical slots or grooves corresponding to those in the needle plate 34, needles, mounted in the slots or grooves ot cylinder 34 and having Shanks adapted to engage the slots or grooves in cylinder 35, a cylindrical cam plate 29 adapted to supportat its upper end cams 38, cams 38 mounted on the head 39 of the dog 40, the latter being adjusltably mounted in the upper end of cam' plate 29 said cams being adapted to force the shank of the needles lownward, an annular cam ring 33 mounted between the needle plates 34 and 35, cams 37 mounted on -ythe outer surface of cam ring 33' and adapted to force the shank of the needle upward, gears 30 and 32 rigidly mounted on shaft $31 and respectively engaging the toot-hed' lower surfaces of cam rings 29 and 33 and adapted to rotate them in unison, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony' whereof I have signed '-my name to this specification in the presence of twoasubscribing Witnesses.

/, WILLIS A. NGALLS. y W itnesscs: i

L. BERNARD WARE, EDITH PETERS. n 

